BOOK IV.

IDENTITY OF SPIRITS.

CHAPTER I.

STUBBORN FACTS CONNECTING TWO WORLDS.

THERE is, among spiritual phenomena, a class, rare of occur rence, but wonderfully convincing when we happen to meet with them. They teach us much more than the reality of the next world, invaluable as that truth is. They give us glimpses into that world, dissipating many preconceptions touching its character and its inhabitants. We learn from them that our friends there may still have earthly thoughts and human sympathies; may still recognize us; may still, for a time, interest themselves even in petty matters that are going on in the world they have left. They do not, by any means, prove to us that every ultramundane communication is truly from the spirit who professes to communicate; but they do prove to us that this is sometimes the case. In doing so, they establish, in certain cases, the identity of spirits. They give us satisfactory assurance that we shall recognize our friends in the next world, and that we shall find them there much less changed than theological fancy has painted them.

Such proofs are the more valuable when they come unsought, unexpected, at first unwelcome even, in the privacy of home: where we cannot imagine motive for deception, nor chance of juggler's trick.

I am fortunate in being able to supply such an example,

GETTING OVER A PREJUDICE.

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furnished to me by friends in whose good faith and sagacity I have entire confidence. I know the names of all the parties whose initials are given in the following narrative; and if I am not permitted to publish them, in attestation, the world has itself to blame. When society, learning to treat upright ness with respect, ceases to denounce or to ridicule such testimony as this, it will be time enough for it to condemn the reticence of those who meanwhile seek refuge from such injustice under an anonymous veil.

A SPIRIT ARRANGING ITS WORLDLY AFFAIRS. Mrs. G

wife of a captain in the regular army of the United States, was residing, in 1861, with her husband, in Cincinnati. Before that time she had, of course, often heard of spiritual experiences; but she had avoided all opportunities to examine the reality of these, regarding the seeking of communications from another world as a sin. She had never seen what is called a professional medium.

It so happened that, in the above year, a lady of her acquaintance, Mrs. C, found that she (Mrs. C) had the power to obtain messages through raps; and she occasionally sat, for that purpose, with some of her intimate friends; among the rest with Mrs. G —. These sessions, continued throughout the years 1861 and 1862, in a measure overcame Mrs. G's aversion to the subject; awakening her curiosity but failing to bring full conviction.

In December, 1863, her husband's brother Jack (as he was familiarly called) died suddenly.

L

G

In March, 1864, Mrs. G, then in the quiet of a country residence near Cincinnati, received a visit from a friend, Miss B- - This lady having power as a medium, Mrs. and she had a session one day. After a time the young lady rose and Mrs. G remained alone. Thereupon, with her hands only lightly touching the table, it moved across the room in which they had been sitting, and, through an open

398

HOW A SPIRIT AIDED

door, into a room adjoining. Later it moved, in Mrs. G's presence, without being touched. Thus, for the first time, she discovered her own powers.

Sitting down again with Miss B—, the name of “Jack” was unexpectedly spelled out.

Mrs. G asked: asked: "Is there anything you wish done, brother?" The reply was: "Give Anna that ring.”

Now Anna M was the name of a young lady to whom, at the time of his death, the brother was betrothed. Mrs. G did not know what ring was meant; but she remembered that when Jack died, a plain gold ring-the only one he wore had been presented by her husband to a friend of his brother, a Mr. G-- She asked if that was the ring, and the reply was in the affirmative.

Some days after this Jack's mother paid them a visit. Nothing was said to her of the above communication. In the course of conversation she told them that Miss Anna M had called upon her; had stated that she had given to Jack, at the time of their betrothal, a plain gold ring and that she wished to have it again. Mrs. G and her husband were both ignorant that the ring in question had been Miss BJack never having said anything to them on the subject. Measures were taken to have the ring returned.

Some time after Jack's death three persons, G. and S—————, —, came, severally, to Captain G that his brother had died indebted to them. them to send in their bills in writing.

C

's;

and told him

He requested

Meanwhile, not knowing anything of debts due by his brother to these individuals, Captain G————— asked Mrs. G

to have a session, hoping to obtain some information on the subject. The following was the result.

Jack announced himself and his brother asked:

“But S——— says he has a bill against you?"

"It is not just. I did borrow of him forty dollars, but I gave him fifty dollars. He repaid me seven only, and still

owes me three."

G- -'s bill, when afterward presented, was for thirty-five dollars, and C—'s for fifty. S― handed in a bill for forty dollars. When Captain G-Jack had repaid him fifty, S―

said, on its presentation, that became confused and said he

thought that was intended for a gift to his (S—————'s) sister.” Captain G- afterward asked, through the table:

"Jack, do you owe any one else?

"Yes; John Gr- for a pair of boots, ten dollars.” [Neither Captain nor Mrs. G- knew anything of this debt.]

he had been indebted to his brother Jack.

"Yes," he replied; "fifteen dollars."

"But he lent you fifty dollars."

"That is true; but I repaid him all but fifteen dollars.' “You have receipts, I suppose?"

C

G G- - promised to look for them; but afterward came and paid the fifty dollars.

Finally Captain G―

called on Mr. Gr, the shoe

maker, who had sent in no bill. Wishing to make the test as

"No, sir. You have paid for all you had of me."

Captain G turned, as if to go; whereupon the shoemaker added:

"But your brother, Mr. Jack, who died, left a small account unpaid."

“ Mr. Gr———, there is your money.”

The above was related to me by Captain and Mrs. G during a visit I made to them at their country residence.*

If, by way of explaining the above, we imagine deliberate, circumstantial, motiveless falsehood in persons of the utmost respectability, of earnest character and of unblemished reputation, we violate all received rules of evidence. But if we admit the facts, what theory which does not admit the reality of spirit-communication will suffice to account for the above? How explain away these stubborn links, actual, tangible, thus unmistakably connecting the spiritual with the material-the world yet concealed from our view with that other world, not more real, which lies around us, palpable to the senses?

And what stronger proof could well be given of the identity of a communicating spirit than these simple, homely details supply?

If it seem to us inconsistent with the dignity of our spiritual abode that its denizens should still be able to recall trifling details of their earthly life, let us bear in mind that, without such memory of past incidents, the natural consequences of well-doing and evil-doing would not follow us to the next world. We cannot repent of sin if we cannot call to mind its commission: and even Heaven would be a curse if there we

* April 9, 1865. I took notes, the same day, from which I wrote out the above narrative. I afterward submitted it to Captain G, for correction and approval. He had kept a record of these various communications and of the attendant circumstances, at the time; and se was able to give me every particular with exactitude.